MARYSVILLE – The City Council decided Oct. 27 to look into forming a Regional Fire Authority.
The reasons: To have more power over the fire department and to have a more-flexible taxing structure.
Marysville Fire Chief Greg Corn spoke in favor of an RFA. Contacted Oct. 28, commissioner Dave DeMarco said county Fire District 12 also favors an RFA. And five of the seven City Council members also want to look into forming an RFA.
Only council members Jeff Vaughan and Jeff Seibert “mildly objected” to the idea.
Seibert said he was uncomfortable because the consultants who talked to the board about their study on the issue a few weeks back seemed “slanted” in favor of RFAs because they are in the business of forming them.
Vaughan said “fear of the unknown” might be driving him. He said fire services is at the core of city government, and he wants to make sure Marysville has more power over a fire department.
Council Member Michael Stevens said that is what he liked about an RFA. It can be set up any way the city wants, as long as the district commissioners agree. Council Member Stephen Muller agreed, “along with the ability for funding.” Council Member Rob Toyer agreed, as long as the city has more representation on the governing board.
Council Member Kamille Norton said she just wants what is “best for citizens, so long as we have services when we need them.”
DeMarco said the commissioners agree that the way fire services are set up now are unfair. It used to be the fire services were split 50-50, but when Marysville annexed so much property a few years ago the valuation is now 80 percent Marysville, 20 percent county. Still, the governing board of the fire services is three from the county, three from the city.
“That’s not fair. It’s a dying document. It no longer works,” DeMarco said, adding he could see a new governing board being 3-2 with the city having one more representative.
Corn said the district commissioners realize “the city is a bigger player so they deserve a little more influence.”
Corn said the current system has worked well since 1992, until the recent annexation. He said even now the district is doing well. For example, he said residents should be able to get lower cost fire insurance because Marysville’s rating has improved from 4 to 3. He did say the structure sometimes gets in the way of getting things done, such as when it wanted to buy two new fire trucks. Because of the fire service tax structure, the department had to ask the city of Marysville for the bonds.
DeMarco said an RFA would create a new taxing district for Marysville residents. That would mean property tax rates should go down because money will no longer be collected for fire services from that pot.
Corn said no matter what the structure, “We are the city’s fire department. We work together well. We’re not different. We’re yours.”
The study prepared on the fire district says the 2014 budget is $16.2 million, compared with $14.5 million in revenues. The $1.6 million gap will be covered by the district’s fund balance, which was $14.7 million.
Among the advantages of an RFA:
•Provides a governing board that can be more representative of the population served.
•Has its own funding source that would not impact other city services.
•Has a property tax levy limitation for cost containment.
•Allows residents to vote on property tax levies.
The Marysville Fire Department was formed through an agreement in 1992 with the city and Snohomish County Fire District 12. They wanted to reduce duplication and expand service. Fire District 20 joined years later. The district protects 55-square miles, including the city, Seven Lakes, Quil Ceda Village, and the east side of the Tulalip Indian Reservation and unincorporated county. The district serves 77,000 people.
The district has 85 full-time and 45 part-time personnel. There are five fire stations. The district responds to about 10,000 calls annually, about 86 percent of which are EMS related.
The study looks at three alternatives: start its own department, annex into District 12 or create the fire authority. It lists pros and cons of each one.
If the council decides against an authority, the study makes recommendations on how to improve the current agreement on fire and EMS services.
In other council news Oct. 27, the council continued a six-month moratorium on senior communities in commercial areas.
At a public hearing, Ron Barkley of Marysville spoke against the moratorium. He said his family has owned some property for 62 years, and he’s been trying to sell it for 10 years. His broker said with retail property sales down due to increasing online sales, senior housing in commercial zones has been popular in other communities. The broker said seniors like living near commercial areas because they can no longer drive and can walk.
Barkley’s broker also said if the city doesn’t like the tax-exempt status of senior communities it should consider that such neighborhoods often bring more retail to an area. He also said city worries about crime have no correlation to such communities as it might if it was low-income housing.
Despite the testimony, the council unanimously continued the moratorium. The planning commission will look at the issue Wednesday, Nov. 12, and the issue may come back to the council by Monday, Dec. 8. If the planning commission decides to allow senior housing in commercial zones, and the council agrees, the moratorium could be repealed.
